Brighton, who needed to win to have a realistic chance of staying up, broke the deadlock eight minutes before the interval when defender Adam Virgo scored from close range after Gary Dicker headed back a corner from Dean Cox.

But Swindon defender Gordon Greer levelled moments after the interval with his first goal for the club when he stabbed home after Billy Paynter headed on a free-kick from Jamie Vincent.

Paynter pounced for his 13th goal of the season when goalkeeper Michel Kuipers spilled a Simon Cox shot, and Cox then took his tally for the season to 28 with a neat finish with the outside of his right foot from Anthony McNamee's pass.

Midfielder Dicker volleyed in a cross by substitute Gary Hart in the last minute, but it was not enough to save Brighton from crumbling to their ninth defeat in the last 13 home games.